Document Type: Official UK Finance Report Analysis
Period Covered: January-March 2025
Publication Date: June 2025
Key Metric: £4.6 billion SME lending (+14% YoY)
Quick Facts & Key Statistics
- Total SME Lending: £4.6 billion in Q1 2025
- Year-on-Year Growth: 14% increase
- Small Business Growth: 30% increase for companies under £2m turnover
- Medium Business Growth: 9% increase
- Loan Approvals: 37% increase in volume
- UK GDP Growth: 0.7% in Q1 2025
- Bank Rate: Cut to 4.25% in May 2025
Executive Summary
UK business lending surged in the first quarter of 2025. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) received nearly £4.6 billion in gross lending from major banks. This marks a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
The growth represents the highest lending levels since Q2 2022. Small businesses saw particularly strong growth of 30% year-on-year. This signals a gradual recovery in business finance after challenging economic conditions.
Key SME Lending Trends Q1 2025
Record Growth in Business Finance
What: SME lending reached £4.6 billion in Q1 2025
Significance: Highest point in nearly three years
Context: Sixth consecutive quarter of lending growth
SME lending reached its highest point in nearly three years during Q1 2025. The main retail banks provided £4.6 billion in gross lending to businesses. This represents the sixth consecutive quarter of lending growth.
Small Business Lending Performance
Small Businesses (under £2m turnover): +30% growth
Medium Businesses: +9% growth
Net Lending Status: First positive net lending since pandemic
The smallest businesses experienced remarkable growth in lending. Companies with turnover up to £2 million saw gross lending increase by 30% compared to Q1 2024. Medium-sized firms also benefited with 9% growth over the same period.
This strong performance helped push net lending for medium businesses into positive territory. This milestone marks the first positive net lending since the pandemic began.
Sector Performance Analysis
Growth Sectors:
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale & Retail
- Health
Cautious Sectors:
- Accommodation & Food Services
- Recreation
- Consumer-facing industries
Lending growth varied significantly across different industries. Agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and health sectors drove the Q1 increase. However, some consumer-facing sectors showed more cautious borrowing patterns.
Economic Context & Drivers
UK Economic Performance Q1 2025
GDP Growth: 0.7% (exceeded expectations)
Previous Quarter: 0.1% growth in Q4 2024
Services Growth: 0.7%
Manufacturing Recovery: 0.8% growth after a stagnant 2024
UK GDP grew by 0.7% in Q1 2025, exceeding expectations. This improvement followed weak 0.1% growth in the previous quarter. The broad-based growth helped boost business confidence across multiple sectors.
Interest Rate Impact
Bank Rate: Cut to 4.25% in May 2025
Rate Reduction: 25 basis points
SME Response: One-third of potential borrowers encouraged by lower rates
The Bank of England cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25% in May. Lower borrowing costs made finance more attractive to SMEs. Around one-third of potential borrowers said lower rates would encourage them to seek funding.
Economic Challenges & Risks
Key Concerns:
- US trade tariffs and policy uncertainty
- Elevated company insolvencies
- Weak survey indicators (PMI in contractionary territory)
- Consumer confidence pressures
Affected Sectors:
- Construction (elevated insolvencies)
- Retail (elevated insolvencies)
- Hospitality (elevated insolvencies)
Despite positive GDP figures, survey indicators remained weak. Manufacturing PMI has stayed in contractionary territory since autumn 2024. Global trade tensions and US tariff concerns weighed on business sentiment.
Finance Approvals & Future Indicators
Loan Approval Metrics Q1 2025
New Loan Approvals: +37% year-on-year
Overdraft Approvals: +8% year-on-year
Growth Trend: Slowing from autumn 2024 peaks
Small Company Performance: Highest levels since early 2022
New loan approvals increased by 37% year-on-year in Q1 2025. Overdraft approvals grew by 8% compared to the same period in 2024. However, the pace of growth slowed from peak levels seen in autumn 2024.
Overdraft Utilisation Patterns
Current Utilisation Rate: Below 50%
Comparison to Pre-Pandemic: Well below historical levels
Business Strategy: Precautionary rather than immediate needs
Despite increased overdraft approvals, utilisation rates remained below 50%. Usage levels stayed well below pre-pandemic levels across all sectors. This suggests businesses are seeking overdrafts as precautionary measures rather than immediate needs.
SME Deposit Trends
Year-on-Year Change: -3% decrease in Q1 2025
Trend: Decline rate moderating from previous quarters
Sector Impact: Consumer-facing industries are most affected
Industries Below Pre-Pandemic Levels:
- Transport & Storage
- Education (newly reached milestone)
- Recreation & Personal Services (approaching milestone)
SME deposit holdings fell by nearly 3% year-on-year in Q1 2025. However, the decline rate moderated compared to previous quarters. Consumer-facing industries recorded the biggest deposit falls.
Market Structure & Competition
Lending Market Share Analysis
Challenger Banks: Over 60% of SME lending market (2024)
Main Retail Banks: Increasing share with recent growth
Market Dynamics: Competitive supply across multiple lenders
Challenger and specialist banks increased their SME lending market share to over 60% in 2024. This growth came as main retail banks reduced their lending during the pandemic recovery period. The recent upturn in high street bank lending could reshape market dynamics.
Future Business Finance Outlook
Short-Term Projections (Next 2-3 Quarters)
Expected Trend: Further modest increases in SME lending
Growth Driver: Continued momentum in finance approvals
Limiting Factors: Trade policy uncertainty, domestic challenges
Investment Appetite Status:
- Current focus: Short-term business needs
- Strategic investment: Remains limited
- Business investment plans: Fewer than 10% of companies plan increases
Policy Impact Factors
Upcoming Government Announcements:
- Industrial strategy details
- Growth guarantee scheme
- New business support services
Potential Impact: More supportive environment for business planning and investment
Key Success Metrics to Monitor
- Lending Volume: Monthly gross lending figures
- Approval Rates: New loan and overdraft approvals
- Sector Distribution: Industry-specific lending patterns
- Utilisation Rates: Overdraft facility usage
- Deposit Trends: SME cash holding patterns
Actionable Insights for Stakeholders
For SMEs
- Timing: Favourable lending conditions are currently available
- Focus: Small businesses have the strongest access to finance
- Strategy: Consider securing facilities before economic uncertainty increases
For Lenders
- Opportunity: Small business segment showing the strongest growth
- Competition: Market share dynamics shifting between bank types
- Risk Management: Monitor sector-specific performance variations
For Policymakers
- Success Indicators: Six consecutive quarters of lending growth
- Areas of Concern: Consumer-facing sectors remain cautious
- Policy Levers: Industrial strategy and business support announcements pending
Key Takeaways & Summary Points
Critical Success Metrics
- Growth Momentum: Six consecutive quarters of SME lending increases
- Small Business Focus: 30% growth for companies under £2m turnover
- Market Recovery: Highest lending levels since Q2 2022
- Rate Sensitivity: Lower interest rates are driving increased borrowing
- Sector Leadership: Manufacturing and retail leading growth trends
Risk Factors & Challenges
- Economic Uncertainty: Global trade tensions are affecting sentiment
- Sector Variation: Consumer-facing businesses remain cautious
- Investment Gap: Strategic investment is still limited across sectors
- Policy Dependency: Government announcements critical for confidence
- Insolvency Levels: Elevated rates in construction, retail, hospitality
Forward-Looking Indicators
- Positive: Continued approval growth, competitive lending market
- Cautious: Slowing approval growth rate, low overdraft utilisation
- Watch: Government policy announcements, global trade developments
Document Metadata & Source Information
Report Title: Business Finance Review 2025 Q1
Published By: UK Finance
Publication Date: June 2025
Data Period: January - March 2025
Report Type: Quarterly SME finance analysis
Primary Data Sources: Main retail banks' lending data
Geographic Scope: United Kingdom
Business Focus: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Key Report Sections Covered:
- SME lending trends and volumes
- Economic context and GDP performance
- Finance approvals and overdraft patterns
- Market competition and bank performance
- Sector-specific lending analysis
- Deposit holdings and cash management
- Forward outlook and policy implications
Tags:
Business Finance
25/07/25 08:30